Gravity-carrier.



H. J. BUCK.

GRAVITY CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1910.

1 ,022,823. I Patented Apr. 9, 191 2.

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GRAVITY CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 21, 1910.

INVEN TOR 'l/E/PMAMJ UCK Arm/Mi Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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Am 3 N Mm m O fiM M M k\ .0 M m H. J. BUCK.

GRAVITY CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.21,1910v HERMAN JOSEPH BUCK, on-mmnnnroms, mmnnsora nssrenon To MATHEWS GRAVITY canmnn COMPANY, orsT; PAUL, MINNESOTA, A- coRPonnTIoN.

emvrrimemmm 'siiecification of Letters ream.

PatentedApr. 9,1912.

hpplicatiofl-filedmiiuembr2i, 1910. seriaumsaag-esi.

To all whom it may concern:

provide means for changing the "direction-0f movement of a'package or"switching-it from onecarrier line to another."

My invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations,-all as here inafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims;

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan View of a gravity carrier and switch embodying my invention, Fig. 2'is aside ele-' vation, partly in section, showing the switch in its lowered or inoperative position, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same, Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2,- showing the switchin its operative position to change the direction of movement of the package.

- In the drawing, 2 represents the rails of the carrier connected by cross bars 3 and having a series of antifriction wheels 4 mounted on bolts 5. These wheels arearranged'near together on the rails and form the supporting surface for the box or ackage moving over the carrier. 6 and are therails of another carrier section having wheels similar to those described and cross bars and braces 8 and 9. The rail 7 is out or notched at 10 to receive the curved rail 11 of the switch, the other rail 12 of the switch being disposed on the outside of the rail-7. These rails, 11 and 12, have wheels mounted thereon corresponding to those described, the rail 11' having some of the wheels at the receiving end of the rail preferably mounted on the inner side, while'a corresponding number of wheels are mounted on the corresponding side of the rail 7. The

' 50 that theircarrying' surface will receive Zthepackage from therails 2 and change its ;direction of, movement.

1 Any-suit'ablemechanism may be employed formoving these section's vertically, so that ,astherails of' the carrier section-are delpressed-below-the level- 0f the rails 2, the rails of the switchsection will-beelevated this part ofmy-invention, I mount a shaft 14' inthe bracket-ldhaving an operating (crank- 15 and arrange arms 16 and 17. on said shaft connected respectively by links '18 with the carrier shown as composed of straight sections," and with the curved switch-section. These arms are so arranged on the'shaft and capable of adjustment by means of the set screws '19 that, as the switch section is raised or lowered,-the straight section will move oppositely thereto, the straight section extending a considerable distance'toward' the'left and having freedorn'of vertical movement. I prefen alsb to raise theouter rail of the switch section and thereforemount' anarm' 20 on the bracket ,14 connected-by a-link- 21 with the rail-11.

both ends of the switchsection-being raised -In carrying out or lowered simultaneously. The operation of the crank 15 will actuate the switch-and.

straightcarrier sections simultaneously,

raising one to its working position and low--- eringthe otherL'The operator is thus'able to direct'the-packagein a straight line from. the carrier rails 2 or change the direction of movement ofthe package and switch it from one carrier line to another, orcut one or 'morepacka es and discharge them at the end of the switch line while the remaining packages may continue inthe same direc-' tion from the starting point.

The rails maybe-made of any suitable size and in various ways the details of'construction herein may be modified without departing from my nvention. v

In moving the switchdevice to an operative position it is not only necessary to opcrate the receiving end or raise it to the level of the carrier wheels from which it receives the package, but the outer rails of the switch section must be raised at the point where it crosses the straight carrier or otherwise the package might run ofl the switch at this point. This movement of theswitch rail I have accomplished by means of the connecting rod 22 andthe mechanism extending therefrom to the switch rail.

I have shown the main line carrier composed of straight sections, but the switch section may be used with a curved main line carrier, if preferred.

I claim as my invention 1. A gravity carrier comprising a section having side rails and anti-friction bearing wheels mounted thereon, a portion of said carrier section beingvertically movable, a curved switch section also composed of side rails and anti-friction wheels thereon and also vertically movable, and means for raising both rails -of said switch section to an operative position and lowering the movable portion of said carrier section to an inoperative positionsimultaneously.

2. A gravity carrier consisting of fixed and movable sections, eachhaving side .rails and anti-friction wheels mounted thereon, a switch section also composed of side rails and anti-friction wheels, one of the side rails of said movable section being notched to receive the outer rail of said switch section and means for raising both rails of said switch section and simultaneously lowering said movable section or raising said movable section and lowering both rails of said switch section.

3. A gravity carrier comprising a straight carrier section having side'rails and anti friction wheels mounted thereon, said straight carrier section having a vertically movable portion capable of being lowered sothat its anti-friction wheels are below the- 4. A gravity carrier comprising a carrier. section composed-of side rails and anti-fries tion wheels thereon, a vertically movable switch section having curved side rails and wheels thereon, a' rock shaft, an arm mounted thereon, a link pivotally connecting said arm with one end of said switch section and means operatively connecting said arm with the opposite end of said switch section, whereby both ends of said section will be raised or lowered simultaneously..

5. A gravity carrier comprising a straight section having a vertically movable portion and provided with anti-friction carrier wheels, a curved switch section also vertically movable, a rock shaft having an operating means, arms 16 and 17 mounted on 'said rock shaft, links connectingsaid arms respectively with one end of said switch section and with the corresponding end of the vertically movable portion of said straight carrier section, an arm 20 pivoted near the opposite end of said switch sect-ion, a link pivotally connecting said arm 20 with the outer rail' of said switch section, and a rod connecting said arms 17 and 20, whereby the outer rail of said switch section will be raised simultaneously with the receiving end a of said section 6. A gravity carrier comprising a section having side rails provided with a carrying surface, a portion of said carrier section being vertically movable, a curved switch section also composed of side rails and provided w1th a carrying surface, andalso vertically movable, and means for moving both rails of said switch section and both rails of said carrier section in opposite directions.

7. A gravity carrier comprisinga carrier section composedof side rails providedwit-h a carrying surface, a portion of said carrier section :being vertically movable, a curved switch section also composed of side rails provided with a carrying surface and also vertically movable, means for raisin the receiving end of said switch section an lowering the movable portion of said carrier section and simultaneously elevating the opposite end of the outer rail of said switch section.

' 8. A gravity carrier comprising a section having side rails provided with a' carrying surface, a curved switchsection also composed of side rails provided with a carrying surface and vertically movable, means for raising and lowering the receiving end of said switch section, and-means for raising and lowering the opposite end of the outer rail of said switch section simultaneously with the movement of the receiving end thereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of December 1910.

HERMAN JOSEPH BUCK.

Witnesses:

GENEVIEVE E. SOBENSEN, C. H. REHFUss. 

